The Chainlink

Positioning reflective tape on a bicycle

I recently purchased my first bicycle (a hybrid) in a long time and am now confident enough again to start taking it out on evening ventures.

I'd like to make myself more visible. I've already purchased lights, and the bike has the standard front/rear/wheel reflectors. I have a reflective day-glow yellow shirt and reflective backpack. I also have a reflective vest for putting over a coat when the weather turns colder. My questions are about reflective tape for the bicycle itself.

1. Any reflective tape type/brands work better for you than others?

2. Where is the best places on the bike itself to put it where others on the road will know a bike is there? A was thinking on the front of the front wheel fork (white tape), front of the handle bars (white tape), on the back of the seat stays in the back (red tape). Any other ideas?


Thanks and cheers.

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Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on July 26, 2012 at 1:55am

There is higher brightness tape available, which has little hexagons or triangles. Look at a boat store or kayak dealer, or if you don't need much Rapid Transit had little plastic bags of hi-vis tape they cut up last time I looked. I'm sure lots of other people have similar. I agree with the rack stays or seat stays. Any store will have real plastic reflectors you can put on that are better than tape. There's an online tape store if you google it. Heating the bike with a hair dryer can help the tape stick if it doesn't want to at first.

I'd make sure the lighting system you have is reliable and bright instead of putting a lot of faith in reflectors. There's an article Sheldon Brown links to about why reflectors don't work by, I think, John Allen. I use them anyway, but a light is harder to miss. I think non-blinking lights make it easier for other traffic to see where you are exactly.

Permalink Reply by Casey Carnes on July 26, 2012 at 7:36am

Agree with Allen, boat store or truck stop usually sell the good stuff.  3M makes the best.  I have some extra laying around; if you live on the north side PM me.

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